Union Grove ISD will become one of only 20 schools in the state to offer the Explorer Bow-Hunting Curriculum, due to a grant and partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Dallas Safari Club International.

District Supt. Brian Gray received the news this past Thursday that a grant for $2,000 from the Dallas Safari Club would be offered to Union Grove ISD.

“Getting kids involved in the outdoors is not only a great activity, but a chance for them to develop a love of the outdoors that will last a lifetime,” Gray said. “They will become stewards of the land and natural conservationists.”

Union Grove is the only school outside of the greater metroplex area (Dallas/Ft. Worth) to receive the grant.

Professional fishermen, game wardens, TPWD officials, QDMA and wildlife biologists, taxidermists, deer processors, hunting guides and other professionals in the outdoor careers field have made presentations to the students.

“These additional funds, supplies and curriculum will allow us to take our class a step further and benefit our kids. They will not only learn about career options, but also about hunting, fishing, conservation and the outdoor lifestyle,” Supt. Gray said.

Gray said he was first approached about the grant possibility when he was a guest speaker at the Archery Summit and Trade Show last month in Grapevine.

Currently, Union Grove is one of the few schools in the area to offer archery to students through the National Archery in the Schools Program.

“I think this will be great for our kids,” Gray said. “Hopefully, we can do a solid job as a pilot school and the curriculum and class that we model and develop will become a guide for other schools across the state.”

“We will incorporate the curriculum in with the Oudoor Careers Class that we currently offer senior students,” Gray said.

He said that those senior students are Cody Day, Cash Young, Bailey Morgan, Jacob Eades, Robert Wagoner and Nik Tarkington.